Buckle attachment to prevent belt slippage



Oct. 18, 1955 M. v. MAHER 2,720,689

BUCKLE ATTACHMENT TO PREVENT BELT SLIPPAGE Filed July l, 1952 BY M. myZiff@ A ORNEY United States Patent O BUCKLE ATTAEHMENT TO PREVENT BELTSLIPPAGE Mildred V. Maher, Jamaica, N. Y. Application July 1, 1952,.Serial No. 296,560

8 Claims. (Cl. Zit-163) This invention relates to a buckle attachment toprevent belatslippage.

Reference is here made to belt buckles which frictionally engage theVbelt to hold the same in any selected position'. It is the type ofbuckle which is frequently applied to womens and childrens dresses.'I'he invention does not .apply to belt buckles which are provided witha tongue for engagement with an eye or series of eyes in the belt. v

The belt buckle to which the present invention relates comprises in itsconventional form a frame which has two end pieces, an intermediate barwhich is spaced from the two end pieces and a pair of side members whichare spaced from each other and which hold the end piecesy aridintermediate bar in spaced relation to each other. One end ofthe belt issecured to the intermediate bar and the belt is then brought around theperson of the wearer and the opposite endV is then inserted into thespace between one of the end pieces and the inter- Ymediate bar andv itis-then drawn around said intermediate bar and into and through thespace between said 'intermediate bar andthe other Vof the two endpieces.

There is -frictional engagement between the belt on the one handvand theend pieces and intermediate bar of the buckle onthe other hand andv itVis this frictional engagement which is intended to prevent Vthe belt'from slipping relative toV the buckle. It willV be apparent from thisdescription of' the buckl'econstruction and its relationship to thevbeltl Vthat such frictional .engagement Will not be eliectual forthe-purpose for which it is intended.

The buckle attachment which is hereindescribed and claimed is a springclip which engages ythe intermediate bar of the buckle and which appliesspring pressure to the end pieces of the buckle. Stated differently, thebuckle attachmentfhereinclaimed hooks onto the intermediate bar ofthebuckle'and 'it' is provided with a pair of wings which tensionallybear against the two end pieces of the buckle. attachmentl is applied tothe buckle only after the belt iSv-drawn therethrough. Consequently, itstwo wings rest not against the buckle proper but rather against the beltand the belt is thereby held in ltensioned engagement between said wingsand the two end pieces of the buckle.

The buckle attachment constituting the present invention maybe made invarious forms. For example, its hook portion which is disposedintermediate its "-twowings -may be formed by simply bending .the.intermediate portion thereof to hook shape. Another possibility is toAweld errivet or otherwise secure a hook portion to the buckleVattachment intermediate the wings of said attachment.

Still another possibility is to strike out an intermediate portion ofthe buckle attachment andY to bend it to hook There are other variationswhich the present invention contemplates, including the following. Thebuckle attachment herein claimed may be made of bare metal, suitablynished, as by means of a lacquer coating or a rustresistant metalplating. If, however, bare metal is found 2,720,689 Patented Oct. 18,1955 to provide an inadequate frictional coeiflcient, it may be founddesirable to roughen its surface by applying thereto a rubber or plasticcoating whose coelicient of friction is considerably higher than that ofbare metal. Another possibility is to provide a plurality of pointedprojections 0r the like on said belt buckle attachment for a morepositive engagement with the belt. A further possibility is to make theentire attachment of spring plastics having a high frictional coeicient.

Preferred forms of this invention are shown by way of illustration inthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a belt which is in engagement with abuckle of the character above described, showing a buckle attachmentmade in accordance with one form of this invention mounted on saidbuckle and engaging the belt' against said buckle to prevent the beltfrom slipping through said buckle.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of said Vbuckle attachment, showing the side whichengages the belt.

Fig. 3 is a side edge view thereof with the buckle in longitudinalsection, showing the pointed projections which engage the belt toprevent slippage.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 of a buckle attachment madein accordance with a second form of this invention, wherein a rubbercoating is applied' to provide a relatively high frictional coefcientbetween the buckle attachment and the belt.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a buckle attachment made in accordance with athird form of this invention, wherein the hook portion is struck out ofthe body of said attachment.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of said buckle attachment.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing and to the rst form ofthis invention, it will be seen that buckle attachment 10 herein claimedmay be applied to a buckle 12 and abelt 14 on said buckle. As has abovebeen indicated, this buckle has a pair of end pieces 16, an intermediatebar I8 which is parallel to the two end pieces and maintained in spacedrelation thereto, and a pair of parallel side members 2'0 which supportthe end pieces and the intermediate bar in spaced relation to eachother. It will be seen that one end 14a of belt 14 is secured tointermediate bar 18. When the belt is worn lon the person, it is broughtaround the waist and then its opposite end 14b is inserted into andthrough space or opening 22 and then around intermediate bar 18 and thenthrough space or opening 24. These two spaces 22 and 24 are formed inthe buckle between its end pieces 16 and its intermediate bar 18 andbetween its two side members 20.

The buckle attachment 10 consists of the following component parts whichmaybe and preferably are integral witheach other: a hook-shaped member26 and a pair of wings 28 and 3.0 respectively. Hook-shaped member 26 isadapted to hook around intermediate bar 18 of the buckle and the twowings 2.8V and 30 are thereby brought into positionV for engagement'withend pieces 16 of the buckle. Actually, however, ythis buckle attachmentnever really directly touches the buckle but instead it rests againstthe be'lt on said buckle. More specifically, hookshaped element 26engages the inner end 14a of the belt which is Asecured to `intermediatebar V18 ofthe buckle. Wing 30 -of the buckle attachment engages theopposite vend 14'b of the belt in the area in which that end of the beltrests against the right endpiece 1'6. The two ends ofthe belt aresuperimposed one above lthe other in the area of the left .end .piece 16.of the buckle and wing 28 of the 'buckle attachment .engages thatportion of the inner end 14a of the belt which lies opposite said leftend piece 16 of the buckle.

It will be seen that buckle attachment 10 is made of a strip of metalwhich is bent upon itself in its center portion and bent in the generalshape of a hook Vto form the hook-shapedportion 26 above mentioned. Itsend Y portions are bowed to form to somewhat arcuate wings 28 and 30also above ,mentioned The exact, curvature both Vof thel hook portion4and the vwing portions is (not critical and lmuch depends'upon theshape of the buckle to which the buckle attachment herein claimed isintended to be applied. Actually, however, a buckle attachment'V whosewingsY are moderately curved will have a virtually universal applicationto'buckles of practically every size and shape. The metal of which thisattachment is made should be resilient and spring steel or other springmetalv {would be well suited for the purposes ofthis invention. VIt willbe Yunderstood that when the hook-shaped intermediate portion of thebuckle attachment is brought into engagement with the intermediate barof the buckle, the wings of said attachment are required to ex out oftheir frelaxed state in order to adapt themselves positionally to Vthekend pieces-of lthe buckle.'A In other words, the wings of theVattachment bearresiliently against theend pieces of the buckle when thehook of said attachment is in engagement with the intermediate bar oftheV buckle. When the beltis interposed between the wings of the buckleattachment andthe end pieces` of the buckle, the spring pressure of saidwings tends to clamp the belt .against the buckle andthereby .tends toprevent the belt from slipping out of the buckle.

The buckle attachment thus described may be Vmarde f of spring wire,rather than metal stripping, if desired.

Similarly, it may be madeof spring plastics or any other material whichcould be made tohook onto the intermediate bar of the buckle and to bearresiliently against the end pieces of the buckle. f Y Y It may be foundthat springvpressure alone will not adequately clamp the belt againstthe buckle. Of course,

Van excessively strong spring cannot be used because it would then bedifficult to mount the buckle Vattachment on theY buckle or to remove ittherefrom. It may therefore be found desirable to add to the frictionalcoecient vof the buckle attachment andthis may be done in several ways,two ofwhich are shown in the drawing. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, itwill be seen that a plurality of pointed projections 32 are applied toVor formed on one of the Y wings 30 of thebuckle-attachment tovprovide arelatively roughened or studded effect. These pointed projections tendtodig into the belt and help anchor it in place relative to the buckle.These pointed projections may be Y formedin wing by simply pressing theminto the metal of which said Wing is made.

Another possibility is to apply a rubber coating 34 Vto said wing 30 andthis maybe done by simply dipping said wing into liquid rubber. Sincerubber has a relatively high frictional coefcient, this will help clampthe belt ,and hold it against slippage A plastic coating may Vbe appliedin place of therubber coating and, if desired,

the engaging surface of the plastic coating may be roughened Vor ridgedor corrugated to enhance its frictional engagement with the belt.

Thus far, the invention has been'discussed in relation Vto theembodiment which is shown in the irst four figuresV ofthe drawing whereit appears that the buckle attachment is made of a single piece ofmaterial which is bent intermediate its ends to form the hook-shapedmember 26. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show a variation of this construction Where'a hook-shaped member 36 is provided in the place and stead ofhook-shaped member 26. Hookg shapedmember 36 maybe described as ahook-shaped tongue which is struck y.out of the body of buckleattachment 38. This forrnof the invention makes for a saving in materialover the .formi of invention shown in the rst four ,gures of thedrawing. It is however immathereof, anda pair of siderails to which saidintermediate crossbar and said end cross pieces are kall connected,V

said intermediate crossbar and said end cross pieces having a front sideand a back side, said attachment comprising an intermediate clip memberand a pair of endV wings connected thereto on opposite sides thereof,the Y end wings occupying a substantiallycommon plane Vand the clipmember being `offset therefrom, said clip mem- Vber being engageableywith the front of` said intermediate bar of the buckle andsaid endwings being engageable .with the back of the end cross pieces of Asaidbuckle, whereby the clip memberV prevents rearward dislodgment oftheattachment from, the buckle and the end wings'prevent forwarddislodgment of said attachment-from said buckle.

2. An attachment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the clip and wingsare made of springmaterial so that the wings will bear against the endpieces of the buckle when the clip is in engagement with theintermediate bar ofthe buckle.

3; An attachment in accordance with claim 1, wherein' Y the clip memberis hook-shaped forVK hooking engagement with the intermediate bar of thebuckle.

Y4. An attachment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wings arearcuate in shape, their convex sides being `engageable with the endpieces of the buckle.

5. An attachment inaccordance with claim 1, whereinV one of the wings isprovided witha pluralityrof pointed projections pointingin the directionof that Vend piece of the buckle lwith which said wingis engageable. .Y

6. An attachment in accordance .with claim 1, wherein one of the wingsis coated with a rubber coating on that surface which is engageable withtheV end piece ofthe buckle which lies opposite said wing.

7. An attachment in accordance with claim; 1, which is made of a singlestrip of spring metal, said strip being bent upon itself, intermediateits ends, torform a hookshaped portion, its ends being arcuately curvedVto provide Y Y the wings which are engag able with the end pieces ofthebuckle. Y ,y

8. An attachment in accordance `with claim; 1` which is made of a singlestrip, of spring metal, a tongue being struck out of said stripof'metal, intermediate its ends and being bent to hook shape to form thesliprwhich is engageable with the intermediate bar of the buckle,` theVends of said strip of metal being arcuately curved to provide the wingswhich are engageable with the Vend pieces of the buckle.

1 References Citedrintheile of this patent a UNITED STATESYPATENTS110,115 Corwin Dec.'13, 1870 179,174V Eager V June 27,1876 749,589 Smithc Jan. 12, 1904 1,027,979 Bienenzucht May 28, 1912 1,111,184 RuhmannSept. 22, 1914 1,398,126 Cochrane Nov. 22, 1921 Y FOREIGN P Afrnrusv Y128,584 Germany Mar. 3,1902

